Seattle's dry streak drags on with no rain in forecast

Published 11:21 pm, Saturday, September 1, 2012

Saturday marked the 41st day in a row of dry weather in the Puget Sound region -- and if the forecast holds true, we could come close to setting a new record streak of rain-free weather.

"Right now, we have 40 days as of (Friday), and that is tied for fourth for the driest streak," said Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle. "The driest streak is 51 days, and that was back in 1951."

The last rain at Sea-Tac Airport was .04 inches on July 22, marking 41 days and counting. The month of August 2012 has already entered the books as the driest August on record.

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Seattle's dry summers are often overlooked because of its rainy reputation, said University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass. Seattle can attribute its damp status to the persistent drizzle and overcast skies that shroud the city much of the rest of the year.

"We are one of the driest places in the country in mid-summer," Mass said. "People don't hear about that but it's true."

The dry stretch is just fine for people heading outdoors for Labor Day weekend. The 200,000 people expected to gather by the Space Needle for Bumbershoot can expect sunny skies and highs around 70.

But the dry spell can also spell trouble. The lack of moisture has led to high fire danger on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.

Flames recently destroyed dozens of homes near Cle Elum. And on Monday, a wildfire burned parts of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline.

That has King County fire officials issuing a warning.

"Brush fires, like in the grassy areas here, can move as fast as the wind can blow them, about 14 mph," says King County firefighter Jared Shoop.

Forecasters say those people who miss the normally wet Seattle weather should not get their hopes up for rain any time soon.

"It looks like the next seven days are looking to be dry with no rain in sight," says Burg.

Despite the dry streak, there are no worrries about a water shortage. Thanks to our wet spring, our snowpack is looking good.

"Our rainfall for the year so far -- we are five inches above normal," says Burg.